opt
verb (used without object)
to make a choice; choose (usually followed byfor ).
opt
1 American
[opt]
/ ɒpt /
verb (used without object)
-
opts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
opted,
past participle, past
-
opting
present participle
verb phrase
-
opt in to decide to make use of or take part in something.
To receive automatic updates, opt in under the email notification section.
-
opt out to decide to withdraw from or not take part in something.
You can opt out of the pension plan, but you lose the employer and government contribution.
opt.
2
American
abbreviation
-
optative.
-
optical.
-
optician.
-
optics.
-
optional.
opt
British
/ ɒpt /
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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optsimple
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optssimple
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have optedperfect
-
has optedperfect
-
am optingprogressive
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are optingprogressive
-
is optingprogressive
-
have been optingperfect progressive
-
has been optingperfect progressive
Past
-
optedsimple
-
had optedperfect
-
was optingprogressive
-
were optingprogressive
-
had been optingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of opt
First recorded in 1875–80; from French opter “to choose, divide,” from Latin optāre “to wish for, desire, pray for, choose, select”
Explanation
To opt is to choose. Given the alternative, most kids will opt for a cupcake over a ham sandwich. When you're signing up for next semester's classes, you might opt for another history class, or instead opt for advanced biology. Whenever you have more than one alternative, you have the chance to opt for something. You can also opt out of something, or choose not to do it at all. Opt comes from the French verb opter, "to choose," from the Latin root optare, "desire," and it's related to option.
Vocabulary lists containing opt
Persepolis
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This Week In Words: Current Events Vocab for October 24–30, 2020
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Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Where possible, opt to walk on uneven surfaces, such as grass, sand or gravel, instead of pavement.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
AI was swiftly embedded in innumberable computer programs, often not even allowing a user to opt out.
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026
One viewer wrote: "Nobody would opt in because nobody wants to feed AI with our creativity and content."
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
As a result, political campaigns must make a “strategic calculation” when they opt to use them, she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
I can’t get all the dust out of my hair, so I opt for a ponytail and a green Wimbledon baseball cap.
From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed
Spenser. dim. diminutive. opp. opposed. subj. subjunctive. dub. doubtful. opt. optics. suff. suffix. eccles. ecclesiastical history. orig. originally. superl. superlative. e.g. for example. ornith. ornithology. surg. surgery. elect. electricity.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various
Although this latter edition be called the edit. opt. it will be evident that the editio originalis is yet a desideratum in every bibliographical collection.
From Bibliomania; or Book-Madness A Bibliographical Romance by Thomas Frognall Dibdin
Rhei opt. aa. ℈i. ol. junip. gutt. xvi. syr. bals. q. s. f. mass. in pil. xxiv. divid.
From An Account of the Foxglove and some of its Medical Uses With Practical Remarks on Dropsy and Other Diseases by William Withering
Still, Ava opts for a charcoal-gray, strapless Alberta Ferretti frock to showcase her chameleonic style and capacity to surprise sartorially.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
So Austin opts for a selfie video about how much “the France fans suck,” as she puts it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
Or they could, once again, be cleared from the field if Mills opts for the nomination.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
It is a game of trade-offs and Tuchel will have to decide whether he opts to drop off or defend more aggressively.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
I can almost see the million thoughts spinning behind her eyes, but she opts to sign, “What is that? It doesn’t look like anything I’ve seen before.”
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
If your co-workers would like to paint the reality which they presumably opted into as unfair, that is a reflection on how they perceive themselves, not you.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026
Chelsea's stadium announcer then opted against reading out the names of the substitutes shortly before the match, but there were audible boos when Fernandez came on in the 62nd minute.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
While many of its venture capital peers have opted to spread their bets across both leading AI labs – OpenAI and Anthropic – Thrive is wedded to OpenAI.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
If you host friends at your apartment because no one wants to spend $90 before the Uber ride home, have you somehow opted out of social life altogether?
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
Despite our begging him to join, Colton opted out, claiming he didn’t have anything to say.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
Neither spoke like someone opting out of social life.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
University professor Oh Ji-hye for years walked past the village without going inside, opting instead for AI readings during her commute.
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
Life360 disappointed investors by opting not to upgrade its earnings guidance at its second-quarter result announcement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
Some are offsetting costs by avoiding baggage fees, with 21% of respondents saying they switched to airlines that include baggage in fares and 29% opting to only bring a carry-on to avoid bag fees.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
But Nick bypasses everything comfortable, opting instead for the floor, where he crosses his legs and starts tuning his guitar.
From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
